Self-locking tie with elastomeric features and methods for manufacturing the same
AssigneeLock Right, LLC
InventorCreighton King
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus, system, and method that relate to a self-locking tie with one or more elastomeric features are disclosed. A strap of the self-locking tie includes one or more features that physically anchor the strap to a base of a mold during a multi-stage molding process. These features may include one or more recesses. Side walls of the one or more recesses may be sloped, as defined by anchors with undercut regions that physically engage material of the strap to prevent movement of the strap within a mold cavity of the base as the strap cools and as the strap is exposed between its formation and formation of one or more elastomeric features thereon.
Claims20
A mold for forming a self-locking tie, comprising:
- a base, including:
- a mold cavity that defines a back side of a strap of the self-locking tie;
- at least one anchor protruding from a bottom surface of the mold cavity;
- and
- at least one recess extending through a central location of the at least one anchor;
- a strap top mold, including:
- a strap top mold cavity that defines a front side of the strap of the self-locking tie and at least one cavity in the front side of the strap;
- and
- an elastomer top mold that cooperates with the at least one cavity in the front side of the strap to define at least one elastomeric feature that extends partially into the at least one cavity.
A method for forming a self-locking tie including at least one elastomeric feature, comprising:
- assembling a mold base and a strap top mold;
- injecting a strap material into a strap mold cavity defined between the mold base and the strap top mold to define a strap of the self-locking tie, at least one anchor within the mold cavity of the mold base engaging a back side of the strap;
- removing the strap top mold from the mold base, the strap being anchored within the mold cavity of the mold base by the anchor;
- assembling an elastomer top mold with the mold base;
- injecting an elastomeric material into an elastomer mold cavity defined in a top of the strap to define at least one elastomeric feature of the self-locking tie;
- removing the elastomer top mold from the mold base;
- and
- removing the self-locking tie from a mold cavity of the mold base.
A self-locking tie, comprising:
- a strap, including:
- a back side;
- at least one anchor recess in the back side;
- at least one core within the at least one anchor recess, a side wall of the at least one core spaced apart from a side wall of the at least one anchor recess;
- and
- a front side opposite from the back side.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.